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Monday, August 13, 2012

Best cities for every life stage

Various cities are better suitable to midcareer workers than to retirees, and some petition to new grads more than to families. That's why we chosen five great cities for each of five diverse age groups -- young adults, mid-career professional, families, second acts and retirees.

Best city for young adults: Madison, Wisconsin

Population (metro area): 568,593

Unemployment rate: 4.9%

Cost-of-living index: 108.2

Median household income: $58,775

Average rent (one-bedroom apartment): $849

Let's skip the Cheesehead and cowpie references. Madison is an knowledgeable, tech-savvy city, filled with current grads that have sufficient energy to start on a dozen start-ups and still have time to check out that brewpub down the block.

Best city for midcareer professionals: Washington, D.C.

Population (metro area): 5,582,170

Unemployment rate: 5.3%

Cost-of-living index: 136.3

Median household income: $84,424

Income growth (2006-11): 15.8%

The nation's capital boasts variety from job sectors to arts and civilization which means it's easy to find your niche. Don't peg better Washington as just a government hub; D.C.'s major growth area is specialized services, such as consult companies and protection contractors. Biotech rules in the Maryland outer edge and in the area stretch from Baltimore to the District, cyber-security jobs are growing.

Best city for families: Des Moines, Iowa

Population (metro area): 569,633

Unemployment rate: 5.0%

Cost-of-living index: 91.3

Median household income: $57,185

Student-teacher ratio: 14.5

A low being without a job rate, high-paying financial-services jobs and below-average housing costs allow Des Moines populace to enjoy a normal of living that's the jealousy of their friends in larger cities. Families can with no trouble find a four-bedroom home with a sensitively involved garage in the $200,000 range.

Best city for second acts: Portland, Maine

Population (metro area): 514,098

Unemployment rate: 6.4%

Cost-of-living index: 113.1

Median household income: $54,431

Restaurants per 100,000 people: 263

Portland's lively arts scene, highly skilled labor force and imaginative cuisine, along with a low crime rate and high-quality checkup amenities, are drawing professionals who are making their home base here and telecommuting or soaring to their jobs.

Best city for retirees: New Orleans, Louisiana

Population (metro area): 1,167,764

Unemployment rate: 7.2%

Cost-of-living index: 95.7

Median household income: $47,188

Doctors per 100,000 people: 136

Seven years after the fiend gale and levee breaches, N'awlins has bounced back. The rebounding populace has helped spawn a building boom of just now construct and refurbished homes, as well as new communications.